Ground connecter



June 9, 1931. G. E. ANDRE 1,809,009

GROUND CONNECTER Filed March 6, 1929 Patented June 9, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GUSTAF E. ANDRE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO IBELDEN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS GROUND ooivnno'rnn Application filed March 6, 1929. Serial No. 344,742.

This invention relates to an improvement in ground connectors or ground clamps as such devices are known in the trade, and has particular reference to a connecter for facilitating the connection of a conductor to a rod, a pipe or the like, usually but not necessarily for the purpose of grounding a conductor.

One of the more important objects of the invention is to provide a connecter of the class described which will'be efiective to establish a good electrical connection between a conductor and a rod or pipe or the like; and another important object is to provide a connecter of simple construction which can, therefore, be cheaply manufactured.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood by reference to the following specification and accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, I have illustrated a prefered form of ground connecter embodying the features of my present invention, the connecter being shown as applied to a pipe for establishing a good electrical connection between the pipe and a conductor.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation.

Fig. 2 is an end view looking at the left hand end of Fig. 1; and

Figs. 3 and 4 are plan and side views respectively of my improved connecter, the same being shown in the condition in which it may conveniently be handled and sold to the trade.

Referring now to the drawings, I have indicated a pipe 5 to which it is desired to con nect an electric conductor 6 for instance, for the purpose of grounding the said conductor.

The present form of my improved connecter includes a flexible metal member 7 in the form of a metal strap which is preferably formed of copper or some other suitable metal which is a good conductor of electricity and which resists corrosion. The metal strap 7 is provided at one end with an aperture 8 and adjacent marginal portions of the strap 7 are bent downwardly to form flanges 9 and 10 projecting laterally from the strap so as to form a receptacle for receiving a nut 11. The'fianges 9 and 10 constitute meansfor positioning the nut 11 in register with the opening 8 and for holding the nut against rotation. A series of apertures 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 are provided at spaced intervals along the length of the strap 7 for the pur pose of accommodating the strap to fit rods or pipes of various diameters or cross sectiona1 dimensions.

It will be readily understoodthat where the conductor is to be connected to a pipe-of large diameter, one of the outer-most openings, for instance 16, 17 or 18, may be brought substantially into alignment with'the opening 8 and nut 11 when the strap is bent around the pipe or rod as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the strap 7 is bent around the pipe 5 andthe opening 16 is brought substantially into alignment with the opening 8 and nut 11 at the other end of the strap. A head screw 19 is provided and is adapted to be passed through the opening 16 and to engage the nut 11, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, for clamping'the strap tightly on the pipe 5. The unused length ofthe strap 7 may be cut off or otherwise disposed of in any suitable manner, and for the purpose of this application, whichever opening, of the series of openings 12 to 18 inclusive, is used, may be considered an opening at the end of the strap since such opening is at one end of the used portion of the strap.

In Figs. 3 and 4, I have shown the connecter in the condition in which it may conveniently be handled by dealers and sold to'the trade. The screw 18 is disposed through the opening 8 and engages the nut 11 so that the screw and nut will not readily be lost from the strap, it being understood that it is desirable to supply thepurchaser of the connecter with a suitable screw and nut for effecting clamping of the strap around a pipe or rod in the manner shown in Fig. 2.

For connecting the conductor 6 to'the strap 7 and through the agency of'the strap to the pipe, I provide a tongue 20 which is formed integral with the strap intermediate the ends thereof. The tongue is cut or punched from the strap in such a manner that one end of the tongue remains connected with'the strap asindicated'at 21 and also so that the tongue is bent to substantially J-shape as most clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The tongue is offset inwardly from the inside face of the strap 7 so that a space 22 is provided between the tongue and the said inside face of the strap, said space being adapted to receive the conductor as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2.. An end portion 23 of the conductor is bared and inserted in the space between the tongue 20 and the body of the strap before the strap is clamped around the pipe.

When the strap 7 is clamped around the pipe by means of the screw 19 and nut 11, it will be seen that the tongue 20 will be forced outwardly as shown in Fig. 2, and thereby caused to grip or clamp the conductor end portion 23 against an adjacent portion of the inside face of the strap 7. Thus, the conductor is electrically connected to the connecter strap and to the pipe as an incident to the clamping of the strap around the pipe.

The entire operation is obviously very simple and can be accomplished with the aid of only a screw driver for turning the screw 19. It is not, of course, necessary to bend the tongue 20 to the above described V-shape, but this is desirable, partly for the reason,'as clearly shown in Fig. 2, that when thetongue is forced outwardly, the outer end portion thereof will serve to prevent the conductor from slipping sidewise out of the space between the tongue and the body of the strap.

I am aware that changes may be made in the above described form and construction of a ground clamp without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which should be determined by reference to the following claims, the same being construed as broadly as possible consistent with the state of the art.

I claim as my invention: I

1. In a connecter of theclass described, the combination of a flexible metal member adapted to embrace a rod or the like, means for clamping said member on the rod, and means struck from said member for receiving an electric conductor and operative, as an incident to the clamping of said member on the rod, to grip said conductor to establish a good electrical connection therewith.

2. In a connecter of the class described, the combination of a flexible metal strap adapted to be clamped around a rod or the like, means for so clamping the strap on the rod, and means struck from and located intermediate the ends of said strap and operative, as an incident to the clamping thereof on the rod, to clamp an electric conductor against an adjacent portion of said strap, thereby to establish a good electrical connection between said conductor and strap.

3. In a connecter of the class described, the combination of a flexible metal strap adapted to embrace a rod or the like, means for clamping said strap on the rod, and

rsoaooe means struck from said strap for receiving an electric conductor and operative, as an incident to the clamping of said strap on the rod, to grip said conductor to form a good electrical connection therewith.

4. In a connecter of the class described, the combination of a flexible metal strap adapted to be disposed around a rod or the like, means for clamping said strap on said rod, and a tongue formed integral with said strap and offset from the plane thereof so as to form a conductor receiving space between the body of the strap andsaid tongue, said tongue being operative, as an incident to the clamping of said strap on said rod, to clamp said conductor against an adjacent part of said strap body, thereby to establish a good electrical connection between said conductor and strap.

5. In a connecter of the class described, the combination of a flexible metal strap adapted to embrace a rod or the like, means for clamping said strap on said rod, and a tongue formed integral with said strap intermediate the ends of the latter, said tongue being connected at one end to the body of said strap and bent to substantially V-shape, the vertex of the V-shaped tongue being disposed inwardly of the innner face of said strap so as to form a conductor receiving space between said tongue and inner strap face, said tongue being adapted to be forced outwardly as an incident to the clamping of said strap on said rod, and thereby caused to clamp said con-' ductor against an adjacent portion of said in side face.

6. In a connecter of the class described, the combination of a flexible metal strap adapted to embrace a rod or the like, said strap being provided with openings adjacent itsopposite ends, means adjacent one end of said strap for positioning a nut in register with the opening at that end and operative to hold said nut against rotation, a nut disposed in register with said end opening and nonrotatably maintained. in such position by said means, a headed screw member disposed in said end openings and engaging said nut for clamping said strap on saidrod, and a tongue formed integral with said strap intermediate said end openings, said tongue being offset inwardly from the plane of said strap so as to form a conductor receiving space intermediate said offset tongue portion and the inside of said strap body, said tongue being forced outwardly, as an incident to clamping of said strap on said rod, thereby to clamp the conductor against the inside face of said strap.

7. In a connecter of the class described, th combination of a flexible metal strap adapted to embrace a rod or the like, said strap Y being provided with openings adjacent its opposite ends, means ad acent one end of sald strap for positiomng a nut 1n reglster lie with the opening at that end and operative to hold said nut against rotation, a nut disposed in register with said end opening and non-rotatably maintained in such position by said means, a headed screw member disposed in said end opening and engaging said nut for clamping said strap on said rod, and a tongue formed integral with said strap intermediate said end openings, said tongue being connected at one end to the body of said strap and bent to substantially V-shape, the vertex of the *J-shaped tongue being disposed inwardly of the inner face of the strap so as to form an opening between said inner face and said tongue for receiving a conductor, said tongue being adapted to be forced outwardly as an incident to the clamping of said strap on said rod, and thereby caused to clamp said conductor against an adjacent go inside face portion of said strap.

8. In a connecter of the class described, the combination of a flexible metal member adapted to embrace a rod or the like, means for clamping said member on the rod, and

g5 means struck from said member for receiv ing an electric conductor and operative, as an incident to the clamping of said member on the rod, to grip said conductor to establish a good electrical connection therewith,

0 said clamping means comprising a bolt and nut and said flexible member being provided with a plurality of spaced apertures for engaging said bolt.

9. In a connecter of the class described,

5 the combination of a flexible metal strap adapted to bedisposed around a rod or the like, means for clamping said strap on said rod, and a tongue formed integral with said strap and offset from the plane thereof so as to form a conductor-receiving space between the body of the strap and said tongue, said tongue being operative, as an incident to the clamping of said strap on said rod, to clamp said conductor against an adjacent part of said strap body, thereby to establish a good electrical connection between said conductor and strap, said clamping means comprising a bolt and nut and said flexible member being provided with a plurality of spaced apertures for engaging said bolt.

GUSTAF E. ANDRE. 

